Vertically adjustable posting stand



March 16, 1954 s SEGAL ETAL 2,672,386

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE POSTING STAND Filed June 19, 1952 3 3 Sheets-Sheetl March 1954 s. SEGAL ETAL VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE POSTING STAND FiledJune 19, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 EZQG/ZZOFA; Qamad J; M I fmwlda 66w;

III!!! I 'llllllllln I It VII-"IIIIIIII March 16, 1954 s SEGAL EFALVERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE POSTING STAND 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 19, 1952Patented Mar. 16, 1954 VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE POSTING STAND Samuel Sega],New York, N. Y., and Eremeldo Cairelli, Chicago, Ill., assignors toWilson-Jones Company, ChicagoJlL, a corporation of MassaehusettsApplication June 19, 1952, Serial No. 294,506

Claims.

This invention relates to a vertically adjustable posting stand, and isparticularly concerned with means for facilitating the vertical movementof a supporting platform relative to the base on which it :is mountedand for securely holding the platform in any of a plurality ofpredetermined positions.

Although a stand of this type may be susceptible of many diversifieduses, the present stand is designed particularly for use in supporting aposting tray at a height convenient to the op- :erator, whether insitting or standing p sition, so as to enhance the efficiency of theoperator by reducing the physical strain of posting opera- *tions.

The stand of the present invention comprises a base and a supportingplatform mounted on the base and vertically adjustable relative thereto.

It is an object of the invention to provide simple, efficient means forsecurely holding the supporting platform at any height to which it hasbeen adiusted. A further object is to provide means for quickly andeasily releasing the holding means and moving the platform to adifiierent level. Another object is to provide spring means tocounterbalance the weight of the platform and the posting tray supportedthereon to reduce the amount of force required to lift the loadedplatform and to prevent the loaded platform from slamming down to itslowermost position whenever the holding means is released.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, showing a preferred illustrative embodiment ofthe invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of a stand embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the stand, showing the supportingplatform in raised position in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the holding means inlatched position:

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view showing-the holdingmeans in unlatched position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the structure shownin Figure 4 in the unlatched position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one front corner of thestand, with portions of the operating lever broken. away to facilitateillustration of the structure;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of one rear cornershowing the spring; and

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 8-8 of Figure2.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a base comprising aflat plate 3, a pair of angular posts 4 extending upwardly at each frontcorner, a pair of similar posts 5 at each rear corner, side panels 6extending downwardly from plate 3, and end panels I at the front andrear ends of the stand similar to the side panels. The stand ispreferably provided with a caster 8 at each corner. Sufficient space isprovided between the corner posts to allow a filing or storage tray tobe supported on the flat plate 3.

The supporting platform, upon which a posting tray is positioned,comprises a flat plate 9 having short depending side flangesv Ill, endflanges l0, and having two front posts H and two rear posts [2. Eachpost II and i2 is angular and fits against the inner surface of one ofthe posts 4 or 5. The outer edges of posts 4 and 5 are bent inwardly, asindicated at l3, to embrace the edges of the posts H and 12 with asliding fit.

The mechanism for moving the supporting platform vertically comprises apair of levers it each pivotally connected at its rear end to a stud i5carried by a strap .16. Each of the straps it is rigidly secured to oneof the posts 5 at opposite sides of the tray about half way between thetop of the post and the flat plate 3. The stud 15 has a bifurcatedportion ll projecting inwardly past the lever 54. A spiral spring it hasits inner end fixed in the bifurcated projecting portion I! of stud l5and its outer end terminates in a curved lip l9 which fits around a stud29 fixed to the'lever M. A link 21 extending parallel to the posts 4 and5 about half way between them at each side of the stand is pivotallyconnected at one end to the lever is and at its other end to the sideflange Ill, as indicated at 22 and 23, respectively. The springs l8exert force tending to lift the levers M about their pivots l5. Thelevers M act through links 2! to lift the supporting platform. Thesprings l8 are so designed that the total force exerted by them isslightly less than the weight of the supporting platform and the weightof the posting tray carried by the platform. Accordingly only a smallforce has to be applied to the levers M to lift the platform and postingtray.

Each lever M is slotted at its forward end, as indicated at 24, to formbifurcations 24". The forward ends of both levers M are connected by across bar 25 extending transversely at the front edge of the stand. Thecross bar comprises a flat strip 28, apertured, as indicated at 21, toreceive a stud 28. A flanged sleeve 29 is positioned adjacent theaperture 21 and furnishes a bearing for the stud 28 which projectstherethrough. The head portion of stud 28, which is on the other side ofstrip 25, has a fiat plate 30 secured to it. The plate 30 has a block 3!welded to its surface adjacent strip 26 and has a handle 32 rigidlysecured to its opposite surface adjacent its ends. When the handle 32 isgripped it may be rotated to a predetermined extent and will rotate theblock 3i with it.

Adjacent each end of the strip 26 an angular member 33 is riveted, asindicated at 34. The member 33 extends past the post 4 and engages theouter surface of the lever Hi. The end portion of member 33 whichextends beyond the bifurcated portion 24 has its top and bottom edgesbent inwardly, as indicated at 35, to form lateral flanges engaging thetop and bottom edges of lever M for a short distance rearwardly of thebifurcated portion 24. The lever 14 is slidable within the flanges 35.The portion of each member 33 extending at right angles rearwardly fromthe strip 25 is provided with an aperture 33 spaced forwardly of post tand another aperture 3'! registering with the slot 23.

An angular member 38 is secured to each men:- 1

ber 33 by means of a pair of studs 39 and 5G which are riveted to themember 38 and project through apertures and 3'1, respectively. The

portion of each angular member 33 which is positioned adjacent the strip26 terminates adjacent the block 3| which is in the same plane. when thehandle 32 is rotated from its position shown in Figure 3, in which it isparallel to strip 26, the edges of block 3! engage the adjacent edges ofangular members 38 and move each member 38 outwardly. This outwardmovement is limited by studs M which are fixed to strip 23 and projectinto slots 42 provided therefor in each angular member 33.

The studs 39 are each provided with a coiled tension spring 43 which isconfined between angular member 33 and a flange 54 positioned adjacentthe free end of stud 39. Outward movement of the angular members 33compresses the spring 43 so that when handle 32 is released the force ofthe springs 43 will move the angular members 38 inwardly.

The studs Ml are the positioning pins which hold the supporting platformat any vertical level.

A vertically extending strip 45 having a plurality i of verticallyaligned apertures G5 spaced at predetermined intervals is welded to oneside of each post 4 with the apertures 45 aligned with stud 40. A shoe4? fits over the strip 45 and is provided with an aperture 48 throughwhich stud All projects and a flange 49 which spaces member 33 from theshoe a distance suiiicient to permit the bifurcations 24' to slidebetween the shoe and the angular member 33.

In the latched position of the stand, as shown in Figure 3, the frontends of angular members 38 abut opposite edges of block 3! and therearwardly projecting portions of members 38 are juxtaposed against thecorresponding portions of angular members 33. At the same time the studsas project into one of the apertures it. Rotation of the handle 32 tothe position shown in Figure 5 -moves the angular members 38 outwardly,as

shown in Figure 4, to disengage the studs 43 from the apertures d6. Thestuds til are not disengaged from apertures 43 in the shoes 41.

When the studs 49 are disengaged from the apertures 46 the cross bar 25may be raised or lowered to move the links M about their pivots l5, andthereby raise or lower the supporting platform through the action oflinks. The spiral springs l8 aid the upward movement of the supportingplatform and oppose the lowering movement. As the levers M are movedthrough the are between the solid and dotted line positions of Figure 2the distance along the link (4 between the pivot l5 and the post 4shortens to a minimum where the lever 14 is horizontal, and thenincreases. The slot 24 is long enough to permit the sliding motion oflink l4 required. The cross bar 25 remains a fixed distance in front ofthe stand so that if the operator is sitting in front of the stand hedoes not have to move away to permit movement of the cross bar. When thehandle 32 is released the springs 43 move the angular members 38inwardly so that the studs 46 will engage the adjacent aperture 45 tohold the supporting platform from further movement in either direction.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have devised a stand that mayeasily be adjusted to a predetermined vertical position and securelyheld in such position. Although We have described a preferred embodimentof our invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that thedescription is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, asmany details may be modified or changed without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, we do not desire to berestricted to the exact structure described, except as limited by theappended claims.

We claim:

' l. A rectangular adjustable stand comprising a base member having anupstanding angular post at each corner, a top section comprising a loadsupporting platform and an angular post depending from said platform ateach corner thereof, said depending posts telescopically fitting in saidupstanding posts, a lever pivotally connected to each post at the rearend of said stand, said levers extending forwardly at opposite edges ofsaid stand, a cross bar extending across the front of said stand andhaving means connecting each end thereof to the forward end of one ofsaid levers, a transversely movable'pin secured adjacent each end ofsaid cross bar, said pins being removably engageable with the upstandingposts at the front corners of said base member, a handle pivotallysecured to said'cross bar, pivotal movement of said handle moving saidpins out of engagement with'said front upstanding posts to permitvertical movement of said cross bar relative to said stand, a pair oflinks each connected at one end to one of said levers and at its otherend to said platform "whereby vertical movement of said cross bar movessaid platform in the same direction, and a spiral spring mountedadjacent each rear upstanding post, said springs being operativelyconnected to said levers and urging said levers upwardly about theirpivots.

2. A rectangular adjustable stand comprising a base member having anupstanding angular post at each corner, a top section comprising a loadsupporting platform and an angular post depending from said platform ateach corner thereof,

said depending posts telescopically'fitting in said upstanding posts, alever pivotally connected to each post at the rear end of said stand,said levers extending forwardly at opposite edges of said stand, a crossbar extending across the frontier said stand, an angular extensionconnecting each end of said cross bar with the forward end of theadjacent lever, a transversely movable pin projecting transversely fromeach of said angular extensions, said pins being removably engageablewith the upstanding front posts of said base member, a handle pivotallymounted on said cross car and operable to move said pins transverselyout of engagement with said front upstanding posts to permit verticalmovement of said cross bar relative to said stand, a pair of links eachconnected at one end to one of said levers and at its other end to saidplatform whereby vertical movement of said cross bar moves said platformin the same direction, and a spiral spring mounted adjacent each rearupstanding post, said springs being operatively connected to said leversand urging said levers upwardly about their pivots.

3. A rectangular adjustable stand comprising a base member having anupstanding angular post at each corner, a top section comprising a loadsupporting platform and an angular post depending from said platform ateach corner thereof, said depending posts telescopically fitting in saidupstanding posts, a lever pivotally connected to each post at the rearend of said stand, said levers extending forwardly at opposite edges ofsaid stand, a cross bar extending across the front of said stand andhaving means connecting each end thereof to the forward end of one ofsaid levers, a transversely movable pin secured adjacent each end ofsaid cross bar, said pins being removably engageable with the upstandingposts at the front corners of said base member, a handle pivotallysecured to said crossbar, pivotal movement of said handle moving saidpins out of engagement with said front upstanding posts to permitvertical movement of said cross bar relative to said stand, a pair oflinks each connected at one end to one of said levers and at its otherend to said platform whereby vertical movement of said cross bar movessaid platform in the same direction, spring means normally urging saidpins into holding engagement with said front upstanding posts to holdsaid platform against vertical movement, and a spiral spring mountedadjacent each rear upstanding post, said springs being operativelyconnected to said levers and urging said levers upwardly about theirpivots.

4. A rectangular adjustable stand comprising a base member having anupstanding angular post at each corner, a top section comprising a loadsupporting platform and an angular post depending from said platform ateach corner thereof, said depending posts telescopically fitting in saidupstanding posts, a lever pivotally connected to each post at the rearend of said stand, said levers extending forwardly at opposite edges ofsaid stand, the forward end of each lever being slotted, a cross barextending across the front of said stand, an angular extensionconnecting each end of said cross bar with the slotted end of theadjacent lever, said levers being slidable relative to said angularextensions, a transversely movable pin projecting from each of saidangular extensions and passing through the slot of the adjacent lever toengage the front upstanding posts of said base member, a handlepivotally mounted on said cross bar, said handle being operable to movesaid pins transversely out of engagement with said front upstandingposts to permit vertical movement of said cross bar relative to saidstand, a pair of links each connected at one end to one of said leversand at its other end to said platform whereby vertical movement of saidcross bar moves said platform in the same direction, spring meansnormally urging said pins into holding engagement with said frontupstanding posts to hold said platform against vertical movement, and aspiral spring mounted adjacent each rear upstanding post, said springsbeing operatively connected to said levers and urging said leversupwardly about their pivots.

5. A rectangular adjustable stand comprisin a base member having anupstanding angular post at each corner, a top section comprising a loadsupporting platform and an angular post depending from said platform ateach corner thereof, said depending posts telescopically fitting in saidupstanding posts, a lever pivotally connected to each post at the rearend of said stand, said levers extending forwardly at opposite edges ofsaid stand, a cross bar extending across the front of said stand, anangular extension connectin each end of said cross bar with the forwardend of the adjacent lever, said levers being slidable relative to saidangular extensions, a plurality of vertically aligned aperturesextending along one side of each of said upstanding front posts, a shoeslidably mounted on each of said upstanding front posts, said shoes eachhaving an aperture aligned with said vertically aligned apertures, atransversely movable pin projecting transversely from each of saidangular extensions, said pins extending through said aperture in theadjacent shoe to engage said vertically aligned apertures uponhorizontal alignment therewith, a handle pivotally mounted on said crossbar, said handle being operable to move said pins transversely out ofengagement with said vertically aligned apertures to permit verticalmovement of said cross bar relative to said stand, a pair of links eachconnected at one end to one of said levers and at it other end to saidplatform whereby vertical movement of said cross bar moves said platformin the same direction, and a spiral spring mounted adjacent each rearupstanding post, said springs being operatively connected to said leversand urging said levers upwardly about their pivots.

SAMUEL SEGAL. EREMELDO CAIRELLI.

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